The 10-day event started March 8 with 607 people setting a Guinness World Record for the most people wearing animal noses simultaneously. Organizers say this year's LaughFest attracted 56,294 people at 323 events; that's up from the festival's inaugural year, when 55,376 people visited Grand Rapids. Most of this year's visitors attended ticketed events.

Proceeds from LaughFest 2012 will help provide services and meals for cancer survivors and their families at Gilda's Club Grand Rapids.

The President and CEO of Gilda's Club Grand Rapids attributes LaughFest's success to the 1,468 volunteers and 282 sponsors, participating businesses, and organizations that made this year's festival possible.